Level.



D. W. l.. FRANK, SR.

' LEVEL.

' APPLICAUON FILED ocT.6.1914.

Feb. 22, QlG.

Patented 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

VAX LNA.

Iullll.

mum

D. W. L. FRANK; SR.

v LEVEL. APPLICATION HLED 0CT.6,1914 n Y A Lpggvlo v Patented Feb, 22,1916.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lfV/ Tf1/ESSE S 15 vviel and 'Ilfminingsef errang'edthat. it may of 'viel tube. Fig.. Seis a cross sectional .I 7 in transverse"Seetiomihusallowing the' vial, the -pushhutten. n

40 fromafcommn sourced-:energy er battery viel suppontin f membefnf-. or Sleeve 21 whe 45 .W'bhxtheg'oregei LEVEL.

- Mwfwei, Y' "pecmeio'nofmtersraenf. Paten/eed Febee'fleifs. v

T0 all @howl-tm confn: A i" vrefereble ferne. o fi'my invention-,1s illus- 'i Be itlmmvnthat D'ANniL' L. FRAN@ trated, in which V l y y Sr., ja' cltzen of thenited States, and reel-"L Flgure l is 'a view in side elevtiongof 'dent 'ofi Chieagqinqthecounty of- Cook and-f vmproved level, with parts ythereof remove; 'e0 5 State of( Illinois, have L{in zule-.eertein'-newf and other'parte broken awayto'lnere dem? )and y"useful Improvements 'ing' Levels, *of 'disclose thev structurel features involve 'f which the Ufollovvigis a specification. i/ Fig. 2 isa sectional View teken along th 'Y This nventi'n relates-te `leveling insti'u# 'flOllglldIml like ill-2: 0f Figi 1,-- Fig- 3 ik' Lments ael'ai1rns prnierilyt provide-e level e erossA sectional view' tekenen the line 3MB 10 of theillunimlted;valjtype wthrmeane 0f F 1g. 1-;-Fig. .4fisge-egoss sectionalvew whereby the vielimybeadjustetl from' timey .taken 011 thlne 0f Fig. 12j Fig??? iS`I` to tr'iieiso as tefalways indicate the true `and a fxfagmentel' View inseetien illu:'sifrati-ng'y correeti xjeading-; l1 'f y eeniewhetlnedied form ofvizrl tubemeuin Afri-ther` @biegt ism, poyide a leveling" mg and support. Fg.'6 is `a,-modiiied fe dinal nu'elanf line "and: everywhere ciretiler spec/siveefthe'several pertswhiehpmke I '.tube tobelfusedainpziny-Qnearlywhorizntal R feiring-to the drawings in whiehsiinl 25 postion-fandels allowing the vuily tubeto laryreferexcef minnen-lsv designatejceire be red yinetransverse irection which-in-, s pendmg parts thioughoni',r therff'sever i dicaes the .twstef etube and thuetlie ,vews, thelevel inellides ahody 15 cempee slotted extremitv 41 n l n l l l1 l i A i ing 29 1s disposed for-the reception and ITO- tection of the edges'of the lenses 30. he lenses 30 in addition to magnifying the readings of the vial tube 31 disposed Within the sleeve also protect the same from injur and maintain the compartment, so .define :tree from dust and foreign material. V

The vial tube 31 Which extends dianietrically across the compartment included between the `lenses and internal of the sleeve 21, is heldegainst shifting with re spect theretcand Supported in a rigid manner by the externally threaded nipples 32 wljjph are slidably mounted Within'the openings 33 formed in the side Walls of the sleeve 21. Suitable rubber gaskets 34 are inserted Within the nipples and acting in conjunction Withthecork end piece 35 and cotton packing 36 engage the extremities of the vial tube and support the same in a rigid manner, and at the same time provide for the unequal expansion of the glass and metallic mountings. Suitable caps 38 en gage the ends ofthe nipples and acting in conjunction with the retaining rings 39,*

the nipples against accidental rigidly lock displacement.

l locking angle member 40 is rigidly secured to the vial supporting sleeve and, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is

v which is engaged by the set screiv 42, projecting through one of the cover plates 25 and thus rigidly holding the vial against movement with respect to the level body. It has been found in practice that after usingthe levelfor a considerable period of time, there always exists the likelihood of the vial tube becoming shifted from its true position, and "in order that this may be corrected andadjusted, the sleeve `is provided with anumber of gear teeth 43 meshing with which is the pinion gear/ let carried by and rigidly secured to the set screw 45.' This set screw extends through the cover plate 25 and thus provides tor the adjustment of the vial tube, without removing the holding plates 2 5 or the lenses 30.

` lateral bevel or tvfitt et "The specilic form of the vial tube is illustrated in its preferred form inl Fig. 7 wherein it will be observed that the Walls of the vial tube are symmetrically convex with rclation'to the longitudinal 'median line, so that "with the axis or longitudinal median line of the vial tube horizontal, or nearly so, the uppermost surface of the tube will be upwardly or outwardly convex and thus allow the vial tube to be successfully used or to successfully perform its requisite functions. The cross sectional contour of the tube will there-fore be circular which allows the tube to be graduated in a transverse or lateral manner as at 46, the edges or' the vial bubble thus indicating the an object'.

Wardly be made, The vial tubes are provided with the A. somewhat modified 4form of tube is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 6F in which the' upper and lower walls of the tube are outconvexed, allowing the vial tube to Y be used in either of its two ositions. The -70 side walls 47 are plane whic increases the facility with which 'the vial readings may nearly filled with some suitable non-freezing liquid. The somewhat modilied form of leveling device illustrated in Fig. 5 is modified, tol the extent onl ,-that the` jm`v ard1y extending flanges 26 are not threaddddtherefore do not so engage the sleeve 21. The cover or holding plates 25 are rigidly 80 anchored tothe inwardly projecting and segmental lugs 19' by, means of they anchoring screws 48 to thus securely hold the said plates against movement and provide for the forced rotation ofthe vial supporting sleeve 21 through the instrumentality of the gear 44 and the teeth 43 formed upon the sleeve 21. In order toilluminate the compartment defined by the vial supporting sleeve and glass side walls'or lenses 30, 'in' 90 which compartment the vial tube is located, an electric bulb/19 is provided and threadedly engages the socket 50 provided therefor which extends through an opening Within the sleeve. The 'base 51 of the lamp pro- 95 jects a considerable distance beyond the i vial supporting sleeve and: slidably contacts with 'the metallic plate 52 clearlyillustrated `in Fig. 1,4 allowing thel sleeve to be rotated, through a limited arc without in# terfering with the supplying of an Velectric current to the lamp for its-illumination.` Inasmuchas each leveling device is adapted to be utilized with the longitudinal axis of the vial tube extending parallel or -atrght 10' angles to the longitudinal axis of the levelbody, a plurality 'ofthe plates 52 are provided intermediate the spaced segmental lugs 19, thus providin for the energizing i.

of the electric lamp in its various'positions. di?

The said plates are of arcuate contour, providing for the constant electrical' connection between the base of the lamp during such 4 motion as is 'imparted to the sleeve durin E r the adjustment of the vial tube through, the 11d instrumentality ofthe gear 44. j

-An electric battery or sourceot' energy 53 is positioned Within an opening 54 provided in the end of the level bodyand is so heldy by the end plate 55. Referring ynow to the` level disclosed in'Fig. 1, the electriccon` ducting strip 56 extends along the-interior .of the level body, is electrically connec'tedf to one pole of the battery 53 and connects with the electric push buttons' A by means .12 of the. various branch strips 57; An electric connection is established between the 'usb button A and the metallic portions o the vial tube support, which in turn communi- Cates, in an electric sense, with each electric bulb or lump.' The remote pole of the bat'- tery is connected, by means rofan' electric. eondu'cting- -strip 58 with-'thm .contacting plate 52 ot ech leveling device opening 1S.

Thusthe lamp of each leveling 'devicei's independently controlled by itstown push button and may be thus independently and sep,-` arately illuminated. The .construction 'of these push buttons. A is illustratediny detail inFigs. 8, 9 `andf'l0,.;wherein it lwill be api purentthat. they include a easing 60 through v thebottom plateo'f wlihextendsthe aper-V:y ture 61.y A! holding member l'62fis positioned j beneeth'andin'Contact withithelower' plate of the. casing 'and .has thefresilient holding prongs 63 projeeting therefrom .which are adapted toengagegthe material Ainfwhich`` the push button isto be.secured, thus allowing 'the push button to belriyeh' into wood or 'allied materialV andsecurely heldy in such position, itbifnfr` noted that. ize- `of wood or some allied destructible material, l

stricted aperture or` opening is first" j'ormed i 68 are adapted to engage. An Ainsulated block .64

there-fon the sidewalls of which tlie'prongs is Ysecured 'to the bottom plateof the casi-ng vby means of the y rivet -65, whichhletter also extendsjthrou'ghi 'the holding member 62 and locks the" men# v. tioned'elements in rigid'relation. A pluny ger 66 projects throughthe'alined openingsy of the insulatingblock` holding memberenfl".`

p easing and i-S- normally maintained linpanj' elevated position by theispring 67 which contacts with the bottom wall ofthe casing' vial tube or the twisting thereof.

ment thereotmay befva-ried to'suit the use i to which the implement -is to. be put.V The central levelingdevi'ce illustrated in Fig. l

lhas the opening 79 'extending through the vided at 82 below ythe vial tube, allowing the' l same to be read from either thereabove or' therebelow. lt will 'thus be apparent that. 8O the central vialr tube is visible from the four sides. and readings may b e either taken asy to the tilting of the longitudinelexis of the The body 'of the level being usually made there are provided the protecting metallic plates 83 securely anchoredto the body hypl the holding screws or allied means 84. The number and relative disposition of the plates 9 0 l depends :upon the dimensions of the 'level j vbody and three have been illustrated in the y [present drawings upon. the upperand lower 'edges of.. the level body. These pla-tes being countersunk'within the body edges do not marlthe,apperance thereof nor form protrusions likelytocateh in .any object, but.

provide bese. plates whereby the level will Valways rest flatly and'correetly'-upon an obland impinges, atits .upper extremity, upon" the 'linger engaging member 6 .Theklower extremity of 'the'.plunger is provided; with'` readings'. x

` the enlarged head 69 preventing'the detach-,A .ment of theplu'nger and also1formi-ngf-'a contacting member, e'steblis'hing an electric 3 y Av1prising `al transparent tube with the upper f a-nd lower .".valls` thereof longitudinally con-V connection between the 'spring members .70.

These spring Inem'bersfare anchored-in place:`

upon 'the block 6ft bv means of suitable screws 7l'projecting througlfl the apertures 72 provided' therein. {'The .sprin'gmembers include' the spring terminalcontactingarms .y 73 which project` above the opening withinff; the insulating block'and theri'eforefin thef' pathfof motion of the plunger-[head 69lwhiehfl contacts with and establishesa'n 'electric bonneetion therebetween. 1 `n order. j `tliut the. electric conduits orfwi'res maybe easi-lygand i quicklysecured to the V 'spring'eontaetingmemr bers V, theterminlmembers 7L vided, formedI of resilient meteri'filfandvmay partake'the nature of ,coileclwsprings@as dishfq l l ringsles disclosedy in.Fig. 8. -These terminal `'members of' resilii'n closed in Fig. 9 or leaf sp ent characteristics are adaptedtobear upon-.1`

the electric conducting' strips endrafect an if; .jsidejwallsgf'ofsaidtube adaptedy to engage y .lt is to be noted that thelevel; illustrated1 in Fig. l has three of` the leveling`-' devices v and three push buttons and coaeting elec# tric circuits, but the number and arrange-.-

electric connection therewith.

tube.' i

ject to be Aleveled .or plumbed or whose posi- .100 i tion` is vto be'-l determinedby the vial tube y' Irla'vin'g;- thus. fully described 'my invenlfvial for leveling instruments, com-i vexed in an outward manner vwith relation.

'to the-longitudinal median line, andv with plane side Walls.

llo 24A, vialftuber mounting for levels, com y prising a, rotatably vmounted'sleevey means for lockingv the saine in adjusted positions,V means .engaging said sleeve for rotating. the

psenie'lthroughfminute. arcs,- and vdiarridtii-l H5 cally. arrengedmeens projecting' through the`-` 'side-,walls offfsaid tube adai'itedl to ensupport the ren'iote ends of a vial i :irre/viii `ineensengagingsaid sleeve for rotating the vsaine*throughminute arcszand diametrif y cally' arranged means -projecting, through 125 andsupport theremote` ends of a vial tube .in an expansible-manner.

4. A. viel-tulrev mountingfcomprising a sleeve, apertured .pistes-engaging the remote 130 u mounting :to leiiels, l'cdingf lilo prisig a.. rotatablyy mounted sleeve, means .for locking thesame in adjusted positions,-

. Liman boaytperiufs; aiflngiiudiauy and-"ams verselygraduated vvial tube ihountd within said sleeve and visible through-the said body therethrough, 10

' said sleeve provided with restricted. slots apertures, land means "carried by''saidV body coactingwith said sleeve for the relative rotationjthereof. l 1 Y `15-., A'1evel comprising a body with right angularly disposed apertures.l projecting n open-'ended `sleeve f 'rota tably mounted Vwithin one of said. apertures,

adapted to 'register= 'with the other of said body apertures, a longitudinally andv transversely graduated vial tubefmounted within said sleeve-and visible through the said body apertures, means' carried by sald body coactingwith said sleeve for therelative'rotw tion thereof, 'and locking means carried by positions.

u ing mter'engaging means carried -b'y sai-d .sleeve'and holding plates lprovidingfor `mounted vial said sleeve and bodya apted to'hold the sleeve and vial tube in rigidand adjusted 16. A level lcomprisingv a body, a.n aper.-` ture' projecting therethrough, aA rotatably nio'unted'vial carrying sleeve located therein, holding plates rotatably engaging 's'aid sleeve andanchored to thesaidf'level body, andv coacting interengagin'g fmeans .carried byv l their relative rotation, andoutstandingl gone' of said cover plates adapted to rigidly lock the s'ae in adjusted relative positions. I18.

vmeans carried by said' sleeve en a levelv comprisingv a body, an aperture `projectlng therethrough, a rotatably holding plates-rotatably engaging said sleeve and anchored to the said level body; QOactng .interengaging 4mean'srarried by said sleeve and holding plates providing for their relat1ve rotation, and transparent end plates carried by said 'sleeve housing the vial tube therebetween." v Y of-electric energy disljcsded therein, a. level# lngdevice carried by ,'a'vial tube con- 'tainingsleeve rotatably carried by. said l body, transparent endy plates carried bysaid sleeve and rendering the linterior thereof mounted vial carrying sleeve 'located therein, l

- 19. A `levelfcomprising a body, a source visible,l means lcarried by the level body and the said ysleeveffor7-eifectingtheir relative "rotation and lockingthe same in adjustedpositions, an electric circuitincluding` a push-A button connecting. said source 'of 'electric energy. lai1d. said push button, an' electric bulb 'projecting through the side Walls of sald sleeve and rotated connected to and includedim'the.electric circuit' of saidsource'of electricalener `DANIEL W. .L.- FRANK. 11./ Witnessesr' f l-.

LEROY D. .I SM RolsENrmug y therewith,and an'. 'arcuated plate eectl'ng'a sliding electrical .connection with said. bulb and.electricallyr 

